Cuffed (6 page)
“That was a brilliant one! We never would have gotten caught if it wasn’t for the cleaner who told on us.”
“Or how about when you thought it would be funny to dump washing powder in the fountain?”
“That was hilarious!”
Anika groaned. “Until it turned into a bubble monster that threatened to devour the grounds.”
Petra’s laughter tinkled through the phone. “We had some fun, didn’t we? And I swear that I’ll get you in somewhere great!”
“You’d better or this friendship is over,” grumbled Anika. It was a well-worn threat that she never managed to follow through with.
“Bah! You’ve been saying that for years. You love it and you know it.” Petra paused a second before she gasped. “I’ve got the perfect place! Monaco!”
Anika slapped her hand to her face, nearly mangling her forgotten sunglasses. She righted them and sighed. “I want to lay low.”
“It’s perfect! You don’t have to worry about privacy violations. Have you ever seen paparazzi pics from Monaco?”
Anika racked her already taxed brain. “No.”
“That’s because paparazzi aren’t welcome there. The place might as well be saying ‘Come for a visit, Anika De Winter! We’re perfect for you!’” Petra barely paused to breathe. “Look, just leave it all to me. Get yourself to Heathrow and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Petra…”
“Don’t even bother to pack. Just get to the airport. You can thank me later.” She clicked off.
Anika banged the phone against her forehead before shoving it back in her bag. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and rubbed her temples. She had to be crazy to let Petra talk her into another one of her schemes.
* * * *
Four hours later, Anika stared in awe at the Totally Five Star Monaco from the back of the limo. The longest part of the trip had been disregarding Petra’s advice and trying to figure out what to pack. The rest had been a blur of burgeoning excitement. In spite of the reservations she still had about everything, Anika couldn’t help the excitement coursing through her at the thought of leaving the city and getting away from it all.
Monaco was the perfect place to do it, even if she wouldn’t admit it to Petra. As her friend had mentioned, there were no paparazzi which made everything that much more enticing. There was plenty to do, and if she didn’t want to venture too far, she was sure the hotel would be magnificent and more than worth exploring.
The Totally Five Star Hotels were known for their luxury and exclusive clientele. It was a miracle that Petra was able to get her in. As far as Anika knew, it took connections and a lot of cash to get a reservation. It was good to be friends with daughter of the PA to the owner.
Heart lighter than it had been since before she found herself engaged to Joshua, she almost floated into the magnificent lobby followed by a porter and her few bags. Her heels clicked on the gleaming marble floors as she made her way to the reception desk. She was no stranger to luxurious surroundings, but at the ambiance in the foyer, she slowed her steps so she could get a better look.
The designer had managed to combine a modern and classic look to great effect. The simplicity of the glass geodesic dome above the lobby contrasted with the painted scene around the edge under the arch. The purely decadent style depicted what looked like frolicking mythological beings. Anika took a few steps forward. It was needed to see what had become of them on the other side of the immense glittering chandelier. Curiosity about the fate of the painted characters sated, she took a moment to study the ornate lighting fixture, appreciating the beautiful way it lit the entire room with a warm, glittering glow.
After looking her fill at the ceiling, she let her gaze follow the lines of the dome down one marble pillar. The furnishings in the waiting area looked as inviting as they did expensive. The polished wood of the legs and frames cradled the plush, subtly patterned creamy fabric. Anika let her observation follow the carefully arranged settees, chairs and tables. The scent of the fresh flowers weighed the air, drifting in delicate wafts in the unseen breeze. The ambiance immediately made her feel welcome, relaxed.
Study done, Anika inhaled the scent again as she made her way toward the desk and the immaculately dressed woman patiently waiting there. Her midnight black hair pinned up in a classic chignon at the back of her neck. Her crisp white blouse cut a blinding line against the perfect black of her skirt. Her striking red lips parted in a brilliant smile that lit up the room. “
Bonne nuit
. Welcome to Totally Five Star Monaco. I’m Marie-Thérèse. How can I be of service this evening?”
Anika smiled in greeting. Even the woman’s slightly accented voice brought an air of sophistication. “Anika De Winter, checking in.”
“Just one moment.” Her French-tipped nails flashed over the keyboard. She paused an instant before furiously typing again.
Anika’s stomach hollowed. “Is there a problem?” Of course there was. Petra struck again.
“Just give me another moment,
s’il vous plaît
.” She clicked the mouse repeatedly and typed briskly for another few seconds.
“It’s fine. Really.” She motioned for the porter to take the bags back outside. “Please call for another limo.”
“No, no, Ms. De Winter. It has all been sorted. I just missed a memo, but everything is in order.” She slipped a key card across the counter.
Anika picked it up, but still wasn’t entirely convinced. “Thank you. If you’ll give me a moment.”
“But of course.” Marie-Thérèse nodded, though she looked a little reticent. “I hope I haven’t upset you.”
“Not at all.” Anika pulled out her phone and dialed Petra.
She picked up after three rings. “Hey, babes, you get there okay?”
“I just checked in.”
“Fabulous!”
Anika sighed. “Not really, the woman had a hard time finding me on the system. Any idea why?”
“Did she?”
Anika wasn’t fooled by the innocent tone in her friend’s voice. “What’s going on?”
“It’s no big deal. I just had another guest moved so that you could get in.”
She rubbed her temple. “What do you mean moved?” Anika turned away from the desk and snarled “You bumped someone for me?” The outraged gasp that came from the other end of the line made her pinch the bridge of her nose.
“That sounds so horrible! I made sure she was compensated. Relax.”
How could Anika relax? “I can’t believe you did that!”
“I did it for you.” Petra sighed. “It’s too late now. She’s out. You’re in. End of story.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Just take the suite. Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning. If anything goes wrong—and nothing will—it will come back on me. Not you.”
The weight that had finally started to lift fell back on Anika like a boulder off a cliff. “I’m too tired to argue. I’ll see if I can find another hotel tomorrow.”
“Don’t be like that. It’s all sorted.”
“Thanks for all you’ve done, Petra. I’ll call you in a few days.” Anika swiped the phone and pressed it to her forehead for a second. She truly was too tired to do anything but crawl into bed, curl up in a ball and sleep.
“Is everything okay, Ms. De Winter?” Marie-Thérèse watched on with concern etched on her face.
“Wonderful. Which way to my room?”
“Marcel will show you the way. You will find everything you require in your suite. If there is anything I can do to make your stay even more pleasant, don’t hesitate to ring down. Please enjoy your stay.”
Anika made her best attempt at a smile, but it felt lackluster, even to her. “I’m sure I will.”
About the Author
Kait was born and raised in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest and started writing as a child to entertain herself during the long winters. Insatiably curious with a love of learning new things, she’s picked up many random skills including three languages and two martial arts. After traveling three continents (the other four are on her bucket list), she settled in England with her family where she spends most of her time cultivating her daughter’s love of reading and writing, scribbling ideas on every available scrap of paper and trying out dialog on her cat.
Email:
[email protected]
Kait loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.totallybound.com
Also by Kait Gamble
Totally Five Star: Breaking Rossi’s Rules
